Calling Cruise Master last year's "talking horse," that is, the one that everyone was talking about, he said his only weak phase is dressage. That could, indeed, scuttle Oliver's chances for the Grand Slam, as it's rare these days that a sub-par dressage test can be cancelled out by brilliant cross-country and show jumping performances. At Rolex last year, for instance, Bettina Hoy and Ringwood Cockatoo were first in dressage, followed by Lucinda Fredericks on Headley Britannia. All they did by the time the ribbons were handed out was switch places; their domination of the leaderboard wasn't really threatened.
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- Oliver Townend jogs Carousel Quest at Rolex Kentucky 2009.
- © 2009 by Nancy Jaffer
On the other hand, the "phenomenally talented" Cruise Master is a good jumper with lots of scope, so that should serve him well if he can get within shooting distance in the dressage.
While Flint and Carousel Quest are far from retirement, it's possible that if Oliver is chosen for the British team (and one wonders what could stand in the way of this equestrian juggernaut) Cruise Master could make a return trip to Kentucky in September for the WEG.
"I think he's got two Kentuckys within a year in him without even a shadow of a doubt," he said.
Rolex Kentucky is not taking a back seat to the WEG, despite the high profile of the World Championships.
"Don't underestimate how big a thing Rolex Kentucky is to me," warned Oliver. "Its very, very important. My main focus at this stage is the Rolex.
"It's one competition at a time. At the minute, all my worries, all my aims, all my dreams, are hanging on Rolex Kentucky. The World Championships, yes, it's obviously a huge, huge competition. I'm fortunate to have enough horses in my stable at a high level. As long as I'm fit and well and one of them is fit and well and our form continues to be good, we'll be there.
Now, however, "our main focus is Rolex Kentucky and trying to complete the Rolex Grand Slam."
It may have been a premature question, but I just had to ask: "What will you do with the Grand Slam money if you win it?"
"Obviously, the money's fantastic," he said. "At the same time, there is no money if I don't win the competition. All my focus is on winning the competition, riding the best I can and trying to get the best out of the horse I've chosen to take there. If we do manage to complete the Rolex Grand Slam, then we'll figure out what the money's going to be spent on."
A quick pause and then, "A few drinks, I would imagine, at some stage."
